WASHINGTON — Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is on the short list to be the next energy secretary.

Ritter, a one-term governor who is now leading Colorado State University’s Center for the New Energy Economy, is among a small group of unofficial finalists to take over the Department, according to media reports.

Current Secretary Steven Chu has not made any formal announcement, but it has been broadly reported that he is expected to depart the administration in the next term.

Ritter told The Denver Post on Tuesday he was “flattered” to be among such distinguished names.

“It’s a crucial time for the country to focus on energy policy among the other priorities,” he said. “Energy has to be a priority going forward.”

Ritter’s push for a “new energy economy” became a top talking point in his four years as governor.

In his current job, he often talks about his balanced approach to boosting domestic energy production and jobs in Colorado, while being sensitive to Colorado’s environment and producing oil and gas in a responsible way.

Ritter has said he is often asked to speak by energy companies who respected his work as governor.

The Western Energy Alliance, an industry trade group, refused to comment on Ritter’s consideration.

As governor, Ritter also backed controversial legislation that could lead Xcel Energy to convert three of its coal-fired electric plants to use natural gas. The move won praise from environmentalists and the natural-gas industry — but scorn from coal backers.

Leading the short list of Energy finalists is Tom Steyer, a Democratic donor who helped bankroll an effort to defeat a proposal in California that would have rolled back some of the state’s renewable energy efforts. The Washington Post first reported the list of names, including Ritter, Tuesday morning.

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